Senior Greg Gibbons (Baldwinsville, NY) second goal of the game with 31 seconds left in overtime lifted the Clarkson University Lacrosse team to a 9-8 victory in its Liberty League opener over Union College in Schenectady on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Knights, who have won two straight, improved their overall record to 5-2. Clarkson is scheduled to host conference foe Hamilton College on Wednesday afternoon.

Holding a 6-4 lead at the half and a 7-5 advantage through 45 minutes, the Knights found themselves in trouble late in the fourth quarter as the Dutchmen (6-2, 1-1) rattled off four consecutive goals to take a 7-8 lead with 65 seconds to play. With 31 seconds left in regulation, junior Tom Ross (Adams, NY) connected off an assist from classmate Brian Hoey (Auburn, NY) for his game-high third goal of the contest to tie the game, forcing overtime.

Clarkson maintained control of the overtime period, holding a 4-0 shot advantage in the stanza, and holding the ball deep in Union’s zone for all but a brief moment of the extra session.

After the Union goaltender was drawn out of the net to play a loose ball, Gibbons took a quick pass from Hoey and scored into the open net late in the extra session to seal the victory for the Green and Gold.

Ross (3-1), Gibbons (2-2) and Hoey (0-4) tallied four points apiece to pace the Knights’ offensively. Freshman Tyler Long (Liverpool, NY) scored twice, and senior Steve Kennedy (Niskayuna, NY) and junior Cory Schneider (Yorktown, NY) chipped in one goal each.

Jon Miller and Kyle Tilley scored two apiece for Union.

Clarkson out shot the Dutchmen 36-28, while Union held a 37-29 advantage in ground balls.

Senior Greg Lamb (Baldwinsville, NY) stopped 13 shots and picked up a team-high six ground balls in the win.